Obit: Lucy Champe Fleming Markham

This obituary was located by Pamela Hutchison Garrett in the Journal Book of Mary Brown Williams Dunbar, at the Mississippi Archives. Mary Williams Dunbar was the granddaughter of Lucy Fleming Markham, through Lucy's daughter Judith Virginia Markham Williams. Mary William Dunbar kept a journal book with many family obituaries. This clipping did not have the source or date, but is probably from the year of 1840 or 1841.

Died, on Thursday morning the 7th ult at her residence in Versailles, Woodford co, Kentucky, Mrs Lucy C Markham in the 65th year of her age. Mrs. M removed to Kentucky about seven years ago, from Goochland co, Va. For 20 years she had been afflicted with an affection of the lungs, from occasional severe attacks of which she was reminded of the uncertainty of life, and of the great necessity of being in a state of preparation for death. For this event she was abundantly prepared. Having devoted her life to works of piety and virtue, and looking with a faithful eye to the recompense of reward - death was hailed by her as a release from the pains and infirmities of flesh, and as a guide to joys that never die.

Her last sickness gave that sort of evidence to which we look with delight--an evidence which always strengthens the Christian and alarms the security of the unbeliever. While the shattered fragments of her "earthly house" fell in ruin around her tranquil soul, with a holy and exalted triumph she .. day - "I have a building of Gods, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." She never spoke of pain, except to answer inquiries with regard to it, by saying that her suffereings were not to be mentioned, when it was remembered what her blessed Saviour endured for her. A beloved daughter, leaning over her, at the hour of dinner, some days before she died, regretted that she could not be of their number. Her reply was - "I shall ere long sit down with angels at my Master's table". Again - a few hours before she died, a friend, anxious to know the state of her mind, made the enquiry, and with her expiring breath she articulated - "Firm as a rock."

Thus passed this earnest Christian from a scene of trial, anxiety and woe, to that blessed place, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are forever at rest." She lived and died an ornament to her sex - to her race, and to the Church of God.